London: Britain's Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg urged police yesterday to quickly investigate new claims that one of Britain's biggest tabloids, the News of the World, illegally eavesdropped on politicians and celebrities.
Clegg's remarks came as The Guardian newspaper quoted a second former journalist as saying News of the World former editor Andy Coulson must have been aware of the culture of phone hacking.
Coulson is now Prime Minister David Cameron's communications director, and under increasing pressure from opposition lawmakers to stand down from his post over the allegations.
Private investigator
He quit the News of the World in 2007 after his royal reporter was convicted of hacking phone voicemail messages left for royal officials, including some from Princes William and Harry. A second man, a private investigator used by the Sunday tabloid was also jailed.
Coulson has denied wrongdoing. The News of The World has also denied that there was widespread use of illegal eavesdropping at the organisation.
Police said they were considering a new inquiry into the extent of phone hacking following new allegations from former employees. Assistant Commissioner John Yates said detectives plan to speak with ex-employees including Coulson.
An article published on Sunday in The New York Times quoted former reporter Sean Hoare as saying that Coulson had been aware of the practice. The Guardian quoted another ex-journalist, Paul McMullan, yesterday as saying the editor must have been aware of the use of illegal hacking.
"How can Coulson possibly say he didn't know what was going on with the private investigators?" the paper quoted McMullan as saying
Hacking
The Times claimed Coulson took part in dozens of meetings at which hacking was mentioned. However, none of the ex-reporters cited specific proof that Coulson knew about the practices.
"If he isn't voluntarily suspended I think the prime minister should ask him to step back from his role," Andy Burnham, an opposition Labour party legislator, was quoted as telling London's Evening Standard newspaper yesterday.
